It's easy to be dismissive of the idea that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be solved through a
negotiated two-state solution. Libraries are filled with books about failed peace efforts. The daily news is
replete with reports of developments that undermine a two-state outcome. Those who oppose two states are growing
more powerful on both sides. And the impotence of the United States and international community when it comes to
getting serious about this issue is so self-evident as to be cliché.

APN is deeply concerned over the spiraling calamity in Syria. More than two years of fighting has left the country
in ruins and more than 100,000 people dead, including, in the latest phase, hundreds killed in a chemical weapons
attack.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are preparing to resume their peace talks Wednesday in Jerusalem.
Complex issues lie before them, according to Lara Friedman Director of Policy and Government Relations for
Americans for Peace Now. She spoke with VOA's Susan Yackee on August 14, 2013.

Anyone who recognizes that Israeli-Palestinian peace is vital for Israel's security and viability as a democracy
and a Jewish state must welcome the release -- as a measure that can strengthen and give credibility to the new
negotiating effort -- even as we feel compassion for those for whom these releases awaken terrible memories of
heinous crimes committed against loved ones.

Since the start of the new Israeli-Palestinian peace effort backed by Secretary Kerry, it feels like every
day has seen news about new settlement approvals, tenders, planning, benefits, etc. In truth, it hasn't
been quite every day - but close to it. The settlement floodgates have been opened, and opened wide,
especially in East Jerusalem. This timeline is intended not to provide comprehensive details of each new
settlement-related development, but to track these developments across time and provide links to additional
resources. Also, keep in mind that new developments can be viewed on the map through APN's "Facts on the Ground" Map App.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) today harshly condemned the government of Israel's recent actions to
move forward with new settlement approvals and tenders in both East Jerusalem and the West Bank. APN urged
President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry to engage vigorously to convince Netanyahu to roll back these
reckless, destructive decisions.

APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented:

"Yesterday's announcement of tenders for 1200 new units in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem was an
extraordinary sign of contempt for President Abbas and for new U.S. special Middle East peace envoy Martin Indyk,
who arrived in Israel this week to restart talks. It came on the heels of last week's outrageous news of a decision
to press ahead with almost 900 new settlement units. Today's announcement of the approval of nearly 1000 additional
settlement units in East Jerusalem appears to reflect nothing short of deliberate effort to extinguish any hopes of
success for the Kerry-backed peace effort before the second round of talks even starts.

Anyone familiar with the history of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking can be forgiven for viewing new
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with a certain degree of skepticism, in large part fueled by concern that
settlements will, once again, be used to undermine the chances for achieving peace.

Anyone familiar with the history of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking can be forgiven for viewing new
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with a certain degree of skepticism, in large part fueled by concern that
settlements will, once again, be used to undermine the chances for achieving peace.

Recent settlement-related developments warrant such concern. Clearly, some are happy to use settlements to kill
the new peace initiative, perhaps hoping this will be the final nail in the coffin of the two-state solution.
If they succeed, there will be opportunities aplenty for hardliners and cynics alike to smirk and say, "We told
you so," but they'll be smirking into the abyss. Failure of this latest peace effort won't create an
alternative to the two-state solution or halt the march of settlements. It will only play into the hands of
zero-sum ideologues on both sides, with devastating implications for everyone else.